Have a look at this:
ICAO EUR Doc 019: "Volcanic Ash Contingency Plan"
Nowhere in this document does it say that the entire region where ash clouds
MIGHT occur should be closed to traffic.
Am I wrong in assuming that if you stay well clear of any noticeable ash fume or cloud by daylight VMC, you risk absolutely nothing?? I think not!
So why not at least send mil A/C up there by daytime VMC and let them look for the actual location of visible ash clouds and keep airliners away from those area's?
I can understand that night-time and/or IMC conditions are a different story, but what is happening now seems overkill.
Why don't we get some advice from Italian ATC and authorities? At least they have plenty of experience with ash-clouds from their volcanoes!
Hoping that some official dares to stand up to stop this nonsense.
Best regards,
Sabenaboy